During the September 18 North Myrtle Beach City Council Meeting, Mayor Marilyn Hatley presented a Proclamation naming September 19 as "South Carolina Future Makers Day" in North Myrtle Beach. Mayor Hatley said that the city is proud to partner with North Myrtle Beach High School and the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance in support of the South Carolina Future Makers, powered by STEM Premier.
ABOUT THE SOUTH CAROLINA FUTURE MAKERS PROGRAM
As the only statewide organization committed exclusively to the interests of South Carolina’s manufacturing community, the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance is keenly aware that the key to future economic development and to the prosperity of our citizens will be developing a world-class workforce to staff the facilities that are being recruited to the state.
In 2013, South Carolina's manufacturers identified finding a world-class workforce to be the key challenge for them going forward. The findings made it clear that due to the aging of our workforce, South Carolina would need more and more skilled workers to fill existing plants. Additionally, with the dramatic success that the state has had in recruiting new facilities and expansions of existing operations, the challenge would only grow.
Beginning with the premise that this state can train a world-class workforce as well as any other state in the nation, the state's manufacturers realized the challenge was to tell the manufacturing and technology stories to the state’s children and their parents. Their answer to that challenge is the South Carolina Future Makers program.
Future Makers is many things, but first and foremost it is a public-private partnership which fully engages South Carolina’s manufacturing and technology communities with middle and high school students, technical college students, and four-year college students. Working with STEM Premier, the South Carolina Department of Commerce, the South Carolina Department of Education, the South Carolina Technical College System, the Department of Employment and Workforce, and so many other key players in workforce development, they tell the story of South Carolina manufacturing and information technology careers, and work to show children and their parents the endless career opportunities available to them and pathways that they can follow to realize their dreams and make their futures come true.
THE GOAL OF SOUTH CAROLINA FUTURE MAKERS
The goal of the South Carolina Future Makers initiative is to expose and connect the next generation in the state of South Carolina to all of the opportunities it has to offer, close the STEM skills gap, and ultimately retain talent for future economic development and regional prosperity.
Under the leadership of the South Carolina Department of Commerce Regional Workforce Advisor, North Myrtle Beach High School Guidance Counselors, Teachers, and Administration will provide access to all students to connect to opportunities with world-class companies and colleges throughout the state and nation.
Mayor Hatley said that this focus helps to ensure future quality leaders and future quality employees for the state and nation.
Shown left to right in the accompanying photo are Anna Strickland (Santee Cooper Community Relations Representative for Educational Programs) , SC Representative Greg Duckworth, Mayor Marilyn Hatley, James Richter (SC Manufacturers Alliance Director of Workforce Development & Member Relations), Eileen Patonay (SC Dept of Commerce Regional Workforce Advisor), Erin Johnson (NMB High School 10th Grade Guidance Counselor), Beth Brown (NMB High School Head Guidance Counselor 12th Grade)
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